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Calman’s vision could bolster Holyrood and end English cash grievances

Peter Jones

June 16 2009, 1:00am, The Times

Innovative tax proposals aimed at giving Holyrood the power to raise about a third of the money it spends “meet the test of creating real financial accountability”, the Calman Commission said in its report on the future of devolution.

They also go some way to addressing complaints from England that the annual block grant the Treasury gives the Scottish government is too big. The report says that the level of the grant should be tied to how much tax Holyrood levies.

Overall public spending levels per person in Scotland — which on services such as education and health are about 21 per cent higher north of the Border — would be unaffected unless Scottish ministers change tax and spending levels.